Hanging out in the hotel room with some crazy bed head. Ready to go on another adventure today little boy? Yup, he’s ready to go!
Guess who the lucky piggyback rider is today? Yes, Mommy is going to get her work out carrying this chunk-a-lunk around on her back.
Our first stop today was the National Folk Museum where we saw lots of artifacts and static displays detailing Korea’s long history. It never feels to make me realize exactly how young our country is compared to countries around the world that have existed through multiple dynasties, rulers, kings, queens, tyrants, invasions, wars, and famine.
Hey, I’m sure lots of people reading this blog will never have the chance to visit, so I feel it’s my duty to show you all the amazing things we encounter here!
I know I bombarded readers last year with pictures of the changing leaves in Gatlinburg, but I’m about to do it again! Fall isn’t even my favorite season, but I can’t help but be stunned by the beauty of these amazing colors all around us. Michael and I kept commenting all weekend that we couldn’t have picked a better time to visit Seoul had we known! It was so beautiful! If you’re ever in a position to visit Korea, I highly recommend coming during the fall months. It’s simply gorgeous. Plus, that whole no central heating and air thing makes most of the other months less desirable.
Pretty handsome if I do say so myself!
Our next stop today was Gyeongbokgung Palace. The largest and most important palace of the Jeoson Dynasty, its construction began under King Taejo in 1396. It served as a royal home to various kings for 200 years until the Japanese invaded in 1592. One of its buildings, the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion is pictured on the 10,000 won note.
These are the palace guard. We were lucky enough to arrive during the changing of the guard…an interesting sight for all to see! Even Ella and Sterling were stunned into silence watching the change.
No getting past these guardsmen and their very sharp looking weapons!
Gyeonghoeru Pavilion. The structure pictured on the back of the 10,000 won bill.
Geunjeongjeon Hall. Also known as the Throne Hall, this is national treasure No. 223. This is the grandest of all the structures within the palace walls. It’s where most of the kings’ business dealings with foreign envoys occurred (often in front of a large audience…talk about pressure!).
The king entering Throne Hall…ha, ha, ha!
Once upon a time the royalty of Korea walked up and down these steps on their way to and from Geunjeongjeon Hall. Now two silly babies, err, toddlers sit on those same steps, laughing and carrying on. Who’d a thunk it?
Just taking a quick picture with the kids to prove to them one day that we really were world travelers! Who knows if they’ll ever make it back to Korea or not…must have lots of pictures to prove that we’ve been there, done that!
Such a silly and happy little boy!
Once he was off my back, Sterling was ready to roam! And roam he did! All over the courtyard of the palace. Such large open spaces were clearly just made for little boys with endless energy.
Daddy duck and his two little ducklings.
I think I’d rather do the pushing, thank you very much.
This crazy little boy did a little dance for us on the doorstep of the Geoncheonggung Residence. The ironic part was this was the queen and kings’ private quarters, built for them to have a quiet retreat from the hustle and bustle of palace life. I think they were sadly lacking this little court jester!
We actually didn’t have very much time to stop and learn about the palace, as we spent a great deal of time chasing babies. I wish we could’ve taken a guided tour, but I doubt anyone would’ve wanted us in his or her tour group! But don’t worry, we still got to take in a lot of the palace and really get a feel for the place. I was in love with all the architectural detail. I skipped the Survey of Asian Art (kicking myself now) class in college, but in my defense, I didn’t think I’d end up living in Korea! Well, lucky me, I may not be well read on the different types of architecture in this palace, but I certainly can appreciate them! I hope you can, too.
Just outside the palace gates we ran into the 12 Chinese zodiac animals. Michael and I are both monkeys and the kids are pigs. Here’s what they say about monkeys:
People born in the Year of the Monkey are the erratic geniuses of the cycle. Clever, skillful, and flexible, they are remarkably inventive and original and can solve the most difficult problems with ease. There are few fields in which Monkey people wouldn't be successful but they have a disconcerting habit of being too agreeable. They want to do things now, and if they cannot get started immediately, they become discouraged and sometimes leave their projects. Although good at making decisions, they tend to look down on others. Having common sense, Monkey people have a deep desire for knowledge and have excellent memories. Monkey people are strong willed but their anger cools quickly. They are most compatible with the Dragon and Rat.
Well, I hope 2 monkeys can be compatible!
Nice to meet you Mr. Rabbit!
Ella and Sterling are pigs, but not only are they pigs, they were born in the year of the golden pig. The golden pig only occurs once every 60 years and is said to be born with extra special blessings upon them. They are believed to be blessed with wealth and knowledge. No kidding, China actually had a population surge in 2007 because of this long held belief! Here’s what they say about pigs:
People born in the Year of the Pig are chivalrous and gallant. Whatever they do, they do with all their strength. For Boar Year people, there is no left or right and there is no retreat. They have tremendous fortitude and great honesty. They don't make many friends but they make them for life, and anyone having a Boar Year friend is fortunate for they are extremely loyal. They don't talk much but have a great thirst for knowledge. They study a great deal and are generally well informed. Boar people are quick tempered; yet they hate arguments and quarreling. They are kind to their loved ones. No matter how bad problems seem to be, Boar people try to work them out, honestly if sometimes impulsively. They are most compatible with Rabbits and Sheep.
After a very busy morning touring museums and palaces. Ella fell asleep on my back. As Michael says, Ella was just made for this baby carrier. She loves taking in the world from the comfort and saftey of Mommy's back, and when she’s tired she just settles right in and takes a little nap. There’s even a little sleeping hood on the carrier that we snap up when she falls asleep to keep her head from lolling everywhere. We took this sleepy baby, and her drowsy baby brother back to the hotel for their naps…where they continued to sleep for another 3.5 hours.
This picture is Michael’s dream come true. He’s always wanted the babies to sleep with us, but they simply won’t sleep anywhere for very long except for in their cribs. I’m very happy with the arrangement, they’re very happy with the arrangement, but Michael has never been very happy with the arrangement. He’s wished on so many occasions that the kids could sleep in our bed. He aches to cuddle up with a sleeping baby, but truly, if you put them in our bed and expect them to sleep, you’ve got another thing coming. So, this afternoon when Sterling awoke from his nap after about 3 hours, we thought he had gotten his whole nap out. Nope, he had just enough sleeping dust left in his eyes to take a quick 30 min. nap on the couch with his Daddy. Michael couldn’t have been happier!
After a rejuvenating afternoon nap at the hotel, we hit the streets of Seoul again, this time we headed over to the War Memorial of Korea. It’s a museum detailing Korea’s long and sordid past with wars and invasions. I think in my head I was expecting it to only chronicle the Korean War, but actually, it had lots of information on the invasions and wars through out Korea’s 5,000 year history. Doesn’t that make America seem infantile? 5,000 years of feuding and invasions and still these people live under the constant threat of an attack from their neighbors to the north. Anyhow, it was all very interesting, in that historical kind of way. The above statue greets you before you walk in the museum. It’s supposed to depict the reunification of North and South Korea. From an artistic standpoint, my favorite part of this statue is the dividing line. The 2 figures are not climbing over a barrier to reach one and other, but rather that line, the DMZ, is simply gone, fallen away into space. A beautiful statement. Of course, from another point of view, you would notice that one figure is significantly larger than the second figure, and is carrying a weapon. Since this is a statue displayed in South Korea, you can guarantee the smaller figure who looks almost like he is asking for forgiveness is the North Korean. Sigh. I guess these 2 countries have a ways to go before this reunification will ever happen. Okay, the artist in me will shut up now and quit boring you, and get back to pictures of the kids.
I have to say, I was pretty amazed at exactly how hands on this museum was. In one room were static displays of planes, motorcycles, tanks, etc. used throughout Korea’s wartime history. No kidding, you were actually allowed, no, invited to walk all over these vehicles. Michael got to climb up on the wing of a WWII aircraft, and take a “ride” with the kids in the side cart on an old motorcycle
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